More than public-private partnership efforts needed

MALAYSIA’s public healthcare needs are bursting at the seams and available tax funds are not enough to meet the growing demands as cost of care keeps increasing. Adding to the challenge is the country’s current high debt level and economic downturn.

Hit against a brick wall, Health Minister Datuk Seri Dr Dzulkefly Ahmad announced in late March the setting up of a seven-member Health Advisory Council to look into public-private partnership (PPP) initiatives to meet Malaysia’s healthcare needs. He also indicated recently that the government is looking into a national health insurance scheme to get more funding to beef up healthcare delivery.